Local Dealers Push Cash for Clunkers Through Weekend

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - There's no doubt about it, clunkers are clearly bringing in cash for local car dealers.

"It's increased our business quite a bit, traffic count's up and people out there are looking for the deals," says Jay Pontiac-Buick-GMC Sales Manager Stacey Day.

"So far since the program started we've done about 38 vehicles on the cash for clunkers program, it's been really successful for us, increased traffic," says Legacy Automotive General Sales Manager Lloyd Yancy.

However, Cash for Clunkers has truly run out of gas this time. Government officials announced it will end Monday night, two weeks prior to the planned Labor Day deadline.

While some car dealers say they've already put the brakes on the program and stopped accepting applications, both Jay Auto Mall and Legacy Automotive plan to continue through the weekend.

"Through Saturday, close of business we're going to go ahead and keep accepting the clunkers provided people have the right documentation," says Day.

"We're going continue to do deals through Saturday, there's a possibility we may do a couple on Sunday. What we request is you have all your paper work, the title, the tag, registration. The more paperwork you have, then we can get it submitted right then. The longer we can do deals, so," says Yancy.

Yancy says those are all deals the dealership is thankful to get, but he admits, he's a bit worried about them going through.

"As dealers right now, we're a little afraid. It's a lot of work. But we're just afraid that some of the funding may be held up, but we have faith that we're going to get our money, so we're going to continue to do deals until the program ends," adds Yancy.

We also spoke with Carl Gregory who says his dealerships discontinued the program as of Friday. However, he says they're still offering other incentives and discounts.

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